Govt strengthens age discrimination law

27/06/2008

The government will strengthen age discrimination law as part of its forthcoming Equality Bill.

Minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman, revealed new measures to protect workers from age discrimination and streamline current legislation.

The bill includes powers to ban all unjustified prejudice against older people and gives public bodies a new legal duty to promote equality.

Ms Harman noted: "Fairness is important for every individual, for our society, and for our economy."

The health secretary, Alan Johnson, said efforts had already begun to ensure older people were treated with respect and dignity.

"In an ageing society, the way we ensure older people are treated with respect is one of the most important issues we face."

"Unfair age discrimination has no place in our society, or in health and social care services," he added.

Parliament has recently passed legislation raising the State Pension Age to 65 years for both sexes, between 2010 and 2020.

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